300 banned drug combinations

Complete list: Do you take one of these 300 banned drug combinations?

The Health Ministry banned 344 fixed drug combinations through a gazette notification issued over the weekend. These include several common cough syrup solutions, analgesics and antibiotic combinations, many of which are sold over the counter.

The ban, which comes into effect immediately, follows recommendations of an expert committee formed to examine the efficacy of these drug combinations. The industry, though, may question the basis of the ban and seek judicial intervention.

Fixed drug combinations have mushroomed in the market as companies in their quest for newer products — and often to beat price control — mix and match ingredients into a single molecule to market them as newer remedies.

Here are some of the brands that you will not find in the medical shops any longer:

Vicks Action 500, Sinarest, Tripride, Zimnic AZ brand, Cheston Cold, Euglim, Glizonem, Gliterais, Crocin Cold and Flu, D-Cold Total, Nasivion tablet, Sumo, Oflox, Gastrogyl, Chericof, Nimulid, Kofnil, Dolo Cold, Decoff, O2T-98, Tedy, Koff

Health Ministry bans 344 drugs, including Nimesulide

The list of banned drugs includes Nimesulide, which had been a cause of concern for long for health experts for its continued use in India despite being banned in most of the developed nations.

The Health Ministry has banned 344 fixed drug combinations through a gazette notification issued over the weekend. These include several common cough syrup solutions, analgesics and antibiotic combinations, many of which are sold over the counter.

The ban, which comes into effect immediately, follows recommendations of an expert committee formed to examine the efficacy of these drug combinations. The industry though may question the basis of the ban and seek judicial intervention.

The list of banned drugs includes Nimesulide, which had been a cause of concern for long for health experts for its continued use in India despite being banned in most of the developed nations.

Fixed drug combinations have mushroomed in the market as companies in their quest for newer products — and often to beat price control — mix and match ingredients into a single molecule to market them as newer remedies.

Many of these which have an antibiotic as one of the ingredients are sold over the counter, thus adding to the menace of drug resistance. The Health Ministry recently launched a drive to crack down upon irrational use of antibiotics and also notified a special schedule of drugs for which chemists will not only need to check the prescription before selling them but also maintain records with themselves or face government action.

Sumo, Zerodol P and Ace Proxyvan are among many drugs along with Corex and Phensedyl, which will go off the shelf from many chemist shops after the government move to ban about 344 fixed dose combination drugs.

The 344 banned drugs include the fixed dose combination of Chlopheniramine Maleate and Codeine syrup sold under the popular cough syrup brand Corex. Following the government ban, pharmaceutical major Pfizer has discontinued manufacture and sale of Corex with immediate effect.

According to Nomura, the government move is clearly an incremental negative for the companies affected. It however says that if companies can launch new products quickly, they may still be able to retain a large portion of sales.

Here is the list of companies and their products that could be affected

1. Abbott: Cough Syrup Phensedyl, Tossex and triple combination diabetes drug Tribet
2. Pfizer: Cough Syrup Corex
3. Macleods: Panderum Plus
4. Mankind: The impact is spread across multiple products
5. Alkem: Sumo (Nimesulide + Paracetamol) and Taxim AZ (Azithromycin + Cefixime)
6. Sun Pharma: The most impacted is triple anti diabetes combination drug Gemer P (Meltformin + pioglitazone + glimeperide)
7. Ipca: Zerodol P (Paracetamol + Aceclofenac)
8. Glenmark: Most of the impact is on account of Ascoril range of cough syrups
9. Wockhardt: Zedex cough syrups, Ace Proxyvan impacted
10. Lupin: Triple combination diabetes drug Gluconorm most impacted
11. Cipla: Triple combination diabetes drug Triexer most impacted
12. Procter and Gamble (P&G): Vicks Action 500 Extra

Click here to know Health Ministry has banned 344 fixed drug list

Health Ministry bans 344 drugs, including Nimesulide - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/health-ministry-bans-344-drugs-including-nimesulide/#sthash.WvpHuah1.dpuf

Health Ministry bans 344 drugs, including Nimesulide - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/health-ministry-bans-344-drugs-including-nimesulide/#sthash.WvpHuah1.dpuf